**SPOILER WARNING even though I try to
make my reviews as spoiler free as possible, sometimes it is unavoidable**

Lara Adrian transports her Midnight
Breed series to 20 years into the future after First Dawn. Tensions are high
among the humans and the vampires. The Order's leader, Lucan, is trying to
balance the prickly relationship but soon discovers that there are other forces
inside and outside the Order working against them and these forces are trying
to make the vampires out to be the bad guys.

Edge of Dawn focuses on the breed
warrior Kellan and his breedmate, Mira. Kellan was supposedly killed eight
years before and Mira has felt empty ever since. He was her best friend and
only lover and it was all taken away from her in a ball of fire. Only revenge
keeps her motivated and fighting for the Order. Then one day during a routine “babysitting”
mission, Mira discovers a life shattering secret, Kellan is still alive. What
is worse, he is the leader for the rebels. Kellan has lived with major regret
this entire time but after what he saw in Mira’s eyes that night eight years
before, he figured he had no choice.

Adrian takes her readers on an emotional
roller coaster. Kellan thinks that disappearing was the way to protect Mira only
to discover that he has been wrong all along. There is no way to avoid your
destiny and his involves facing the Order and paying for what he has done. As
Kellan and Mira try to figure out who the actual bad guys are; they also discover
that they can no longer deny their love for each other.

This series definitely got a new
makeover and the storyline is refreshed. I was unable to put the book down once
I started. The ending reveals where Adrian is going with the series and I for
one want to be first in line for this ride.

Monday, February 25, 2013

I grew up in Grand Island, Nebraska. In the spring of each year, the five-eighths mile track, known as Fonner Park becomes the focal point of horse racing in Nebraska.

When I was four or five years old, my parents would occasionally take me to the track. I had to sit in the car (okay, usually on the roof of the car), parked along the outside rail. Kids were not allowed inside the grandstand at that time. It was fine with me. I’d rather be near the track and feel the rush of competition as jockeys muscled their mounts through the turns of that bullring.

My dad used to tell the story that on one of these trips I told him to bet the purple one. The tote board declared the purple one to be twenty-five to one. No sane person would bet the purple one. Of course, the purple one won. Dumb luck, but I was hooked.

In high school I signed up to try out for the golf team, which happened to be in the spring. Those trying out for the team were released from school early to go play a round of golf at the local country club.

Somehow my car never made it to the country club and could be found parked at the racetrack.

A friend and classmate of mine, Rob Williams, was allowed to leave school early to work. He was an apprentice jockey at Fonner Park. Rob, or as he is known on the racetrack “RD Williams,” became one of the top jockeys on the Midwestern circuit. In those early days he would laugh as he rode by in the post parade because he knew I wasn’t supposed to be trackside, I was supposed to be in school.

By just hanging around I developed an appreciation for the industry. It was more than just the breathtaking majesty of the horses or the process of divining winning wagers from the numbers in a racing form.

It was the people.

The people at a racetrack provide the greatest diversity of personalities and backgrounds imaginable—from the well heeled owners in the luxury boxes to the teenager who mucks out stalls and everyone in between—trainers, hotwalkers, stewards, vets, farriers, professional gamblers, hunch bettors--everyone. There may be no greater socioeconomic and demographic mix in any other enterprise.

And somehow these people “need” one another.

The horses cause these lives to intersect and become interdependent. The natural conflict of competition and money is heightened by the clash of these diverse and disparate characters.

I find it the perfect Petri dish for storytelling.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve O'Brien is the author of four novels: Elijah's Coin, Bullet Work, Redemption Day, and Dead Money. Elijah's Coin has been added to the reading curriculum in multiple secondary schools throughout the US and has been incorporated in a university ethics course. The e-book version of Redemption Day was an Amazon.com Bestseller. Steve is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and George Washington University Law School. He lives in Washington, DC.

ABOUT DEAD MONEY

You Can’t Stop It.

The stranger’s menacing, dismissive laughter echoed in attorney Dan Morgan’s head. In the heart of thoroughbred country--Churchill Downs--a major con was about to be pulled. Despite Dan’s efforts, his filly, Aly Dancer, was somehow part of the scheme.

You Can’t Stop It. Dan’s dream as a thoroughbred owner was to run in a Grade I race—a televised stakes race. That opportunity had finally appeared. So far it had only resulted in threats, violence and death.

We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes
overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you
are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means
you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you
borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course
ebooks!

If you’re anything like me, you are probably hoarding
books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it
might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves
is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Steampunk romance is a great place to read about couples who embark on a joint heroic journey. In these tales, couples often face a villain or some kind of threat. More often than not, the hero and heroine share equally in the responsibility of saving the day.

The concept is an exciting one, but why does it happen? Which ingredients in steampunk romance foster the joint heroic journey dynamic? I singled out three key reasons based on my reading experience.

1) The alternate history setting element in steampunk romance allows for more progressive interpretations of heroines. They can have occupations beyond those dictated by traditional gender roles. Heroines can be inventors, airship captains, spies, police inspectors, and business owners. Therefore, these women have more resources, influence, and control. They have the freedom to become part of the action and move the plot forward.

The alternate history setting creates a fertile ground in which authors can explore changing attitudes toward gender roles—in both women and men.

One thing I’ve noticed about the steampunk romance heroes I’ve encountered is they are quick to assume the heroines are as capable as they when it comes to solving the mystery or combating the villain. They recognize heroines don’t need permission from anyone to take charge or make important decisions—it’s just what they do.

2) Action-adventure elements also increase the extent to which a steampunk romance couple embarks on a joint heroic journey. Steampunk romance has roots in the Edisonade genre. Victorian-era people were fascinated by technology and engineering and their interest was channeled into tales about inventors and their fantastical devices.

Steampunk romance taps into a similar mindset. But instead of featuring one protagonist, these stories offer two. External threats, like rampaging giant automatons, are common in steampunk romances. The hero and heroine must unite and share their skills to overcome their common foe or risk losing each other. Plus, it’s fun to discover how they integrate their respective talents.

3) Steampunk technology often levels the playing field. You’re as likely to encounter a heroine familiar with steam-powered technology as a hero. Hence, heroines are often on an equal footing with the heroes, which leads to the inevitable joining of forces. Steampunk romance heroes recognize a good thing when they see it, you know?

Heroes and heroines in steampunk romances are excited about what their partner can accomplish with technology. Whether their love interest is piloting an airship or operating a difference engine, steampunk romance heroes and heroines develop an attraction to one another based on talent and skill. Quite the aphrodisiac, eh?

Thanks for reading my speculations about some of the building blocks of the joint heroic journey in steampunk romance. Here’s a list of books that will entertain you with them (in alphabetical order by author):

And, if I may, you’ll also encounter the joint heroic journey in my new Western steampunk romance, Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts(Lyrical Press).

Now I’d like to know your opinion. What are your thoughts about the heroic journey? Would you be interested in reading more stories with that type of fantasy? Why or why not?

Giveaway Time!

Fill out the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post and you’ll be entered in a random drawing for a chance to win a digital copy of Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts!

* Winner’s choice PDF, ePub, or .mobi.

* The deadline to enter is 2/28/2013.

Now for the blurb:

The West just got a whole lot wilder.

A woman on a mission... Scientific achievement isn't enough for Violet Whitcomb. Life working alongside her renowned scientist father is filled with intellectual challenges, but what she truly craves is love and adventure. She’s resigned to a fate of academic pursuits…until a fateful trip across the American frontier changes everything. A rogue inventor known as the Iron Scorpion kidnaps Violet's father and she alone is left to plan his rescue.

A man with a secret... Logan McCoy knows firsthand going up against the Iron Scorpion is suicide, but he can't let Violet waltz into the villain's lair alone. She may be a stranger, but she's also the most compelling woman he's ever known.

A perilous quest... Their attraction is undeniable, but their alliance turns contentious when Violet insists on including a third partner on their mission: her father's latest invention and the world's most advanced automaton, Arthur. The reason for Logan's resistance isn't clear until Violet comes face-to-face with the Iron Scorpion's diabolical devices, and by then, it's far too late.

About the author

Heather Massey is a lifelong fan of science fiction romance. She searches for sci-fi romance adventures aboard her blog, The Galaxy Express.

She’s also an author in the subgenre. To learn more about her published work, visit www.heathermassey.com.

We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes
overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you
are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means
you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you
borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course
ebooks!

If you’re anything like me, you are probably hoarding
books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it
might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves
is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles!

**SPOILER WARNING even though I try to
make my reviews as spoiler free as possible, sometimes it is unavoidable**

In Maizel’s follow-up to Infinite Days,
the reader is right away thrown into the action. Stolen Nights begins just four
days after Lenah performs the ritual on Vicken to make him human and also the
night her friend Tony was killed. The ritual does not kill Lenah but instead
transforms her back into her human self. The worst is definitely not over.
Justin and Lenah witness a vampire killing one of Lenah’s friends on the beach
and Lenah knows that this vampire is hunting her; someone wants her to pay for
what she has done in her past and will make her suffer first. Not only has she
discovered this threat but now the Aeris need her to decide her punishment for
what she and her soul mate Rhode Lewin have done by performing the rituals that
made them human. This choice along with the task of confronting the one hunting
her will leave the reader breathless and torn.

Lenah still has many characteristics she
had when she was a vampire. She loves hard and many times only thinks of
herself. After finding out that Rhode is still alive she literally leaves
Justin behind. As a reader we are torn between the undying love she has with
Rhode and the fresh human love she had with Justin. But right away we know that
Lenah and Justin’s relationship is not what it used to be. Until the moment
that Lenah makes the ultimate sacrifice we wonder if she has really changed at
all.

We learn more about Lenah and Rhode thru
flashbacks and we also learn more of Vicken. I have to say Vicken is a great supporting
character and I even laughed a few times at his antics. As I said before,
Justin’s relationship with Lenah has changed. He is now in the backseat and not
liking it at all.

Even though the mood of Stolen Nights is
definitely darker than it was in Infinite Days we are enlightened and hopeful
by the end. Maizel throws the punches without saying sorry to her readers and
for that I am thankful. This wouldn’t be the book it is if she held back.
Refreshing and heartbreaking, Stolen Nights will have you anxiously awaiting a
possible third book (please).